When Nikola Vlasic was loaned to Torino from West Ham United last season, one of the big reasons the player accepted the move was the opportunity to work with Ivan Juric.
The Croatian was determined to get the best out of the then Hammers player, who started the season in great form, only for everything to go downhill after the World Cup.
Torino did eventually make the move permanent, spending nearly €13m to sign him from West Ham; a move Zlatko Dalic, manager of the Croatia national team, strongly believes in, saying as much to Tuttosport.
Asked about Torino and Serie A in general, the 56-year-old dedicated some of his time to focus on Vlasic, whom he knows very well from their work together when representing their country.
He said: “Nikola has talent and ability, but in London he didn’t perform as expected, similar to what had already happened at Everton. He was instead very good in the three-year period in Moscow with CSKA. Well, he has to get back to those levels. It’s simply a question of a mental ‘chip’.
“We talked about it together. He already showed interesting things in Turin last season. Juric will polish him up. I called him up for the World Cup in Qatar, where he played six games because I believe in him.”
Those are the quotes in the text, but Tuttosport also add one about Ivan Juric in their sub headline, where they relay the Croatia manager as saying: “Ivan is a perfectionist and transits determination to everyone. He only thinks about Torino, even when he sleeps, and with him, Nikola will explode.”
For those wondering how Vlasic is doing away from West Ham this season after his permanent transfer, he has made four appearances in all competitions, but has failed to find the back of the net or assist his teammates.
